Country Intelligence Lead Analyst - Latin America

About this role

Janes empowers military, government, and defense leaders to act with confidence in an increasingly complex world. Our trusted defense, security, and geopolitical information delivered through seamless digital platforms and system integrations—turns overwhelming data into clear, actionable intelligence and insight. By filling critical information gaps, Janes helps customers analyze threats, accelerate decisions, and stay ahead of emerging challenges.

Job purpose:

The Lead Analyst will lead the Country Intelligence Latin America desk, managing and developing a team of analysts responsible for OSINT intelligence coverage across the region. This is a senior analytical and client-facing role requiring extensive knowledge of Mexican Non-State and Armed Groups (NSAGs) and Serious and Organised Crime data as well as a strong understanding of the wider Latin American security and geopolitical environment.

The successful candidate will be a recognised Mexico specialist, fluent in Spanish, and have a well-developed network of regional contacts and sources. They will bring considerable proven experience from a comparable intelligence, security, defence, government, risk or research environment and be able to engage with senior clients and stakeholders.

The position will also have a strong focus on the evolving US–Mexico security relationship and the strategic importance of Mexico within the wider Americas. Relevant issues include organised crime and cartel activity, narcotics trafficking, security cooperation, political and institutional stability, and changes in US and Mexican policy that may affect the regional security environment.

The Lead Analyst will drive the maintenance and enhancement of foundational country intelligence, including Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information and Infrastructure (PMESII) assessments, CBN coverage, NSAG profiles, and serious and organised crime content. They will monitor developments, commission and produce analysis, review the work of their team, and deliver written assessments in accordance with Janes' rigorous analytical standards.

As a senior subject-matter expert, the successful candidate will also represent Janes with customers and other external stakeholders.

The Country Intelligence Lead Analyst - Latin America – Latin America will report to the Principal Analyst, Latin America, NATO and Europe.

How you will contribute at Janes:

• Lead Janes' open-source intelligence research and analysis on national security, geopolitical and stability risks across Latin America, with particular responsibility for Mexico.

• Serve as a senior subject-matter expert on Mexico, with particular expertise in NSAGs, cartels, serious and organised crime, security institutions and the political-security environment.

• Maintain and expand a trusted network of relevant regional contacts and sources to strengthen Janes' understanding of developments in Mexico and Latin America.

• Lead the updating and enhancement of foundational intelligence products, ensuring coverage reflects current intelligence priorities, emerging threats and changes in the regional security environment.

• Manage, mentor and develop analysts, setting research priorities, allocating work and ensuring consistently high analytical and editorial standards.

• Review and quality-assure analytical output, challenging assumptions and ensuring assessments are evidence-based, appropriately sourced and clearly communicate confidence and uncertainty.

• Identify intelligence gaps and emerging issues requiring additional collection or analytical attention.

• Produce timely written assessments, short-form and longer-form analytical content for senior decision-makers and stakeholders.

• Deliver authoritative briefings to clients and respond confidently to questions from government, defence, security and commercial audiences.

• Build relationships with customers and internal stakeholders, using their intelligence requirements and feedback to help shape research priorities and product development.

• Contribute to the continued development of analytical methodologies, structured analytical techniques and best practices across the Country Intelligence team.

The ideal skills and experience for this role are:

• Specialist expertise relating to Mexico, demonstrated through substantial professional experience researching or working on Mexican political, security, defence, intelligence or organised crime issues.

• Fluent Spanish and English, including the ability to conduct advanced research using Spanish-language primary and secondary sources and engage professionally with Spanish-speaking contacts and stakeholders.

• An established and relevant network of contacts in Mexico and/or the wider region, potentially spanning government, security, defence, academia, journalism, civil society and specialist research communities.

• Detailed knowledge of Mexican NSAGs, cartels and serious and organised crime, including their organisational structures, leadership, geographic presence, capabilities, revenue streams, alliances and competition.

• Strong knowledge of wider Latin American security, political and geopolitical dynamics and an ability to place developments in Mexico within their regional and international context.

• Considerable proven experience in a comparable intelligence, defence, national security, political risk, geopolitical analysis or specialist research role.

• Proven experience leading analysts or researchers, setting priorities, managing workflows and developing colleagues.

• Excellent OSINT collection and analytical skills, with the ability to identify, validate and interpret information from complex and sometimes contradictory source environments.

• Strong source evaluation skills and an understanding of the particular challenges associated with researching organised crime and security issues in Mexico.

• Proven experience in intelligence assessment, risk assessment, scenario…